title: Does wearing a surgical facemask or N95-respirator impair radio communication?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluated the impact wearing a surgical facemask or N95 air purifying respirator (N95) has on radio reception.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared the ability of a flight crewmember and a layperson sitting in a Bell 407 crew compartment and a dispatcher sitting in a communication center to accurately record 20 randomized aviation terms transmitted over the radio by a helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) pilot wearing a surgical facemask and six different N95s with and without the aircraft engine operating.
  
  
  RESULTS
  With the aircraft engine off, all terms (100% accuracy) were correctly identified, regardless of the absence or presence of the surgical facemask or N95 studied. With the aircraft engine on, the surgical facemask (3M-1826) and two N95 respirators (3M-1860, Safe Life Corp-150) maintained 100% accuracy. Remaining N95 accuracy was as follows: 3M-8511 and Kimberly-Clark PFR95 (98%), Inoyel-3212 (97%), and 3M-1870 (93%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In general, despite wearing a facemask, radio reception accuracy is high (>90%). However, aircraft engine noise and N95 type do appear to adversely affect the accuracy of radio reception. All HEMS pilots and crewmembers should be aware of these radio reception findings when using an N95 respirator during transport. A brief review of the surgical facemask and N95 effectiveness to prevent viral respiratory infections is provided.
authors.affiliation: Intermountain Life Flight, Intermountain Healthcare, Salt Lake City, Utah 84116, USA. frank.thomas@imail.org
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Butts
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rhoades
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brandon
authors.forename: Diana L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Handrahan
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008397:Masks / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011845:Radio; D012134:Respiratory Protective Devices / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D013060:Speech; D013067:Speech Perception; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control